Clearing the Air: Environmental Action Against Parkinson’s

Authored by: Mina Kanburlar

Art by: Mia Hsu

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is increasingly becoming a major global health issue. From 1990 to 2021, the disability-adjusted life years (total healthy years lost from illness and early death) due to PD per 100,000 people rose from 53.51 to 94.68, nearly doubling [1]. This increase highlights that medical management alone will not suffice; prevention and risk-reduction strategies, known as primary interventions, must be central to efforts aimed at slowing this progression. While current therapies, such as Carbidopa-levadopa medication, physical therapy, deep brain stimulation, and management of non-motor symptoms, remain essential, these secondary interventions cannot reverse the disease [2]. Public health measures aimed at modifiable risk and protective factors offer a promising approach to reducing PD’s global burden.

Recent research has clarified which environmental, lifestyle, and dietary factors are associated with increased or reduced risk of PD. Environmental exposures, including pesticides, heavy metals (e.g., manganese), and industrial solvents, have been consistently linked to higher PD risk, as have air pollution, high dairy consumption, and traumatic brain injury [3]. Alternatively, several protective factors have been identified. Higher levels of physical activity, caffeine consumption, and adherence to Mediterranean-style diets have been associated with a lower risk of developing PD [4]. These findings suggest that primary prevention strategies can be structured around minimizing exposure to environmental toxins while promoting behaviors that support neuroprotection.

The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of limiting pesticide and heavy metal exposure in agricultural and industrial settings through stricter regulations, promotion of safer alternatives, and community monitoring programs [5]. Similarly, improving air quality can significantly reduce neurological disease burden, as long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (small airborne particles ≤2.5 µm that can enter the lungs and bloodstream, known as PM2.5) has been associated with increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases, including PD [6]. Policies aimed at reducing industrial emissions and promoting cleaner energy sources have both cardiovascular and neurological benefits, underscoring the interconnected nature of environmental and neurological health.

Reducing exposure to pesticides and airborne particles requires action across regulatory, agricultural, and community levels. At the policy level, governments can strengthen regulations limiting the use of neurotoxic pesticides such as paraquat, maneb, and rotenone, which have been directly linked to dopaminergic neuron loss in both animal and human studies [7]. Banning or restricting the most harmful agents, enforcing buffer zones between residential areas and farmlands, and mandating protective equipment for agricultural workers can substantially reduce exposure risk. Encouraging the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) practices, such as biological pest control, crop rotation, and precision pesticide application, can lower pesticide use without compromising agricultural productivity [8]. These measures not only safeguard those directly handling chemicals but also protect surrounding communities from drift and water contamination.

Community-level interventions also play a crucial role. Health programs can educate farmers about safe pesticide storage, handling, and disposal, while promoting periodic health screenings for early neurological symptoms. Public health surveillance systems could track pesticide use and neurological disease patterns to identify at-risk populations more rapidly. Moreover, investing in sustainable agriculture, including organic farming initiatives for low-toxicity alternatives, can incentivize a gradual shift away from harmful chemical reliance [9].

For air pollution and PM2.5 exposure, urban and industrial interventions are equally vital. Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, enforcing stricter vehicle emission standards, and upgrading public transportation infrastructure can reduce fine particulate levels in cities [6]. Installing air filtration systems in schools, healthcare facilities, and homes in high-pollution areas can offer immediate protection for vulnerable populations. Community awareness campaigns about exposure-reduction behaviors, such as avoiding outdoor activity during pollution peaks, can also contribute to risk mitigation.

Ultimately, reducing environmental contributors to PD requires an approach that integrates environmental policy, occupational health, and public education. The neurological impacts of environmental toxins often take decades to manifest, meaning that proactive prevention today can yield significant reductions in PD burden in future generations. By combining strong environmental regulation, sustainable agricultural practices, and community-level education, public health systems can target one of the most preventable drivers of Parkinson’s disease.

References

1. Li, Y., Lv, Z., Dai, Y., Yu, L., Zhang, L., Wang, K., & Hu, P. (2025). The global, regional, and National burden of parkinson’s disease in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2021: A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2021. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 3047. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23492-8 

2. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2024, September 27). Parkinson’s disease: Diagnosis & treatment. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376062

3. Grotewold, N., & Albin, R. L. (2024). Update: Protective and risk factors for Parkinson disease. Parkinsonism & related disorders, 125, 107026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2024.107026

4. Beheshti, I. (2025). Risk and Protective Factors in Parkinsons Disease (arXiv:2503.07798). arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2503.07798

5. World Health Organization. (2023, August 9). Parkinson disease. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/parkinson-disease 

6. Krzyzanowski, B., Searles Nielsen, S., Turner, J. R., & Racette, B. A. (2023). Fine Particulate Matter and Parkinson Disease Risk Among Medicare Beneficiaries. Neurology, 101(21), e2058–e2067. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000207871

7. Amaral, L., Martins, M., Côrte-Real, M., Outeiro, T. F., Chaves, S. R., & Rego, A. (2025). The neurotoxicity of pesticides: Implications for Parkinson’s disease. Chemosphere, 377, 144348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144348

8. Akbari, R., Nosrati, S., Maghsoodi, M. S., Alizadeh, S., & Khatibi, S. M. H. (n.d.). The role of pesticides in Parkinson disease and Integrated Pest Management.

9. Benbrook, C., Kegley, S., & Baker, B. (2021). Organic Farming Lessens Reliance on Pesticides and Promotes Public Health by Lowering Dietary Risks. Agronomy, 11(7), 1266. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071266